Caught on camera: Skokie police officers save baby's life with CPR

ByMaher Kawash and ABC7 Chicago Digital Team WLS logo
Friday, June 23, 2023
North suburban police officers saves baby's life
North suburban police officers saves baby's lifeSkokie Police Department Officers Alfonso Hernandez and Rogelio Cantu were caught on video saving a baby's life.

SKOKIE, Ill. (WLS) -- The heroic efforts of first responders in Skokie were captured by some newly released bodycam footage from the police department.

Skokie police officers Alfonso Hernandez and Rogelio Cantu sprinted into action earlier this month to resuscitate an infant near the 8100 block of North Keating.

"I got a call of a cardiac arrest, and next thing you know, they updated it, and said it was an infant. So, the lights went on both in the car and in my head: 'It's show time,'" Hernandez said.

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Skokie police blocked out the infant in the bodycam footage, which shows the officers working quickly while also calming down the family.

"You fall back on your training when you're scared and during tough times," Hernandez said.

The officers' biggest fear did not stop them from giving chest compressions in just minutes, soon leading to tears from the infant.

"Music to my ears," Hernandez said. "It meant the baby was breathing."

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Hernandez has been with Skokie police for one year now, hoping to never get a call like that one. But now, he and the family of that infant can breathe massive sigh of relief that it ended this way.

"This is what we do as police officers, you know?" Hernandez said. "It always feels good when you get a successful outcome, because it's not always that way you know."

The family of the infant did not return ABC7's request for comment, but the officers at Skokie police said the infant is continuing to do well.

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